Carrick Rallies to Victory in Secretariat Stakes
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Photo: Coady Photography
Carrick wins the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington International Racecourse
Carrick, under a confident ride by John Velazquez, swept to contention at the top of the stretch in the Secretariat Stakes (G1T) Aug. 11 at Arlington International Racecourse and eked out a narrow win over the favorite, Analyze it.
Carrick, a Giant's Causeway colt out of the Distorted Humor mare How Far to Heaven, ran 1 1/4 miles on good turf in 2:01.04. Thomas Morley trains the colt for Donegal Racing.
Carrick was making only his fourth start in a career that began with a win May 12 at Belmont Park. He won again June 21 and finished third in the Kent Stakes (G3T) at Delaware Park in his most recent outing.
Donegal's Jerry Crawford said he was "incredibly confident" despite the colt's 38-1 odds. "We felt if he had open space to run in, he'd relax and run his race," he said.
That's exactly the scenario that developed as Velazquez kept Carrick in midpack and out of trouble, came wide into the stretch, and had just enough in the late going.
"It reminds me of the day Keen Ice beat American Pharoah in the Travers (Stakes, G1)," said Crawford, who gave away $2 win and $2 place tickets to 25 children before the race. Many joined the Donegal team in the winner's circle after cashing the win tickets for $78.20 and place for $16.80.
Keen Ice , owned by Donnegal and trained by Dale Romans, defeated American Pharoah by three-quarters of a length in the 2015 Travers Stakes, one of only two losses on the résumé of the Triple Crown winner.
"We'll see how he comes back and how he breezes," Crawford said about plans for Carrick's future. "But we're going to be looking at the biggest races." He said those will include the Breeders' Cup, but the colt will likely remain on the green course.
International travel also could be in the cards.
"Many of our members are excited about Royal Ascot," he said, adding Dubai in March could also be an option. "That would be a nice exacta right there," he said.
Carrick was bred in Kentucky by Patricia Pavlish. He was sold at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $75,000.
Analyze It, a Point of Entry colt owned by William H. Lawrence and trained by Chad Brown, suffered his third straight loss after starting his career with three victories.
Analyze It was beaten a neck by Catholic Boy in the Pennine Ridge Stakes (G3T) at Belmont June 2, then missed by a head to the same rival in the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) July 7.
Irish invader Bandua ran evenly to finish third under William Buick. Hunting Horn, another Irish invader and second choice in the mutuels, raced with the early pace, then faded in the final furlong to finish eighth with Ryan Moore riding for trainer Adian O'Brien.